Girls basketball: Oak Ridge girls ready for change

GAME OF THE WEEKLady War Eagles meet College Park in district battle

GLENN SATTELL, CHRONICLE CORRESPONDENT

Published
6:30 am CST, Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles have been looking up at College Park as the Lady Cavaliers captured the last four district championships. But they hope this is the year that they contend for that crown as the Lady War Eagles host College Park on Friday. It's the perfect setup for the hosts to gain some respect in District 14-5A.

But College Park won't give up the title easily under first-year varsity coach Michelle Richardson. The Lady Cavaliers played a tough non-district schedule in preparation for a district that includes newcomers Kingwood and an Atascocita team that reached a No. 2 state-ranking early in the season.

ABOUT THE GAME

• Matchup: College Park Lady Cavaliers vs. Oak Ridge Lady War Eagles

• When: 7 p.m., Friday

• Where: Eagles Nest

• What's at stake: College Park needs a victory to push towards a potential fifth consecutive district title. Oak Ridge has an opportunity to step up into the higher echelon of the district with a victory.

TEAM HIGHLIGHTS

• Oak Ridge: The War Eagles won nine of their first 13 games and are flying high entering District 14-5A play. Brandi Lawson, Tatiana Jackson, Jacquira Manning, Shelby Cage, Kali Bass and Chantal Franco are all capable of double-figure scoring. Oak Ridge has topped the 60-point mark in three games leading up to the district season while yielding just two 60-plus games. Over the first 13 games, Oak Ridge's defense kept five opponents in the 30s and held 10 teams to 52 points or less. What it all means is a vastly improved Lady War Eagles team that seems ready to challenge for one of the district's four playoff berths.

• College Park: The Lady Cavaliers had an up and down predistrict, but the schedule was brutal. College Park played two teams that at the time were ranked No. 1 in the state and also played a couple more state-ranked teams along the way. The Lady Cavaliers still came out with seven wins in the first 13 games of the season. Alexia Sanders and Megan Shafer led the way in scoring. Both players averaged 13 points per game over the first 13 games. Sanders shot 51 percent from the floor and also averaged 9.4 rebounds per contest. Lexxus Ward was also a key contributor with 4.4 steals and 4.0 assists per game.